Spend some time teaching your dog some new tricks to show off at the park other than how to sit. It may take some extra time and patience to train them, but there are a few key elements to make the training easier.

Use verbal commands that are consistent for each trick to make it easier to learn and be sure not to punish your dog if they don’t pick up the commands right away. It is a process, so give your dog plenty of time to learn. Positive reinforcement can help them remember the tricks, but phase out the treats once your pet has learned the tricks.

Roll Over

Use the “down” command to have your dog lie down on the floor. Then move the treat in your hand to the side so that your dog begins to roll on its side. Reward your dog for doing this motion. Take another treat and move it over your dog’s head so that it must follow the treat. This step is the hardest, so be patient if it takes more training. Add in the verbal command “roll over” while performing the motion with your hand to create a connection between the two.

Clean Up

If there are lots of dog toys in your living room, teach your dog how to clean up its own mess. Get a large box and place it near the toys. Then hand your dog a toy and point to the box for it to drop it. Reward your dog every time it does this behavior, and begin using the verbal command “clean up” with these motions. Repeat this until your dog brings the toys to its box on its own.

Speak

To encourage your dog to bark on demand, it first needs to bark at something. Ring a door bell or do something to make it bark, and then reward your dog with a treat. Give a verbal command for your dog to bark. Practice this verbal command, and give your dog a treat when it barks with the command. If your dog tends to bark a lot, this might not be the best trick. Work on rewarding your dog when it hushes instead.

Opening the Door

Tie a cloth around a door, and then give your dog the other end of the cloth. Your dog will tug at the cloth which will open the door. When this happens, give it a reward. Add in the verbal command “open” when it does this behavior, and reward your dog with a treat each time it follows the command. Just remember to choose a door that does not lead outside